King County has been awarded nine federal economic stimulus grants totaling almost $79 million, funds which will be used to create or retain 192 jobs, according to a report issued by the county executive’s office.
The report is part of an organized effort to maximize the benefits to King County from federal stimulus funding sponsored by Council Chair Dow Constantine. Another 22 county stimulus applications, totaling $78 million and creating another 602 potential jobs, are pending and King County has also worked with regional and national partners on preparing another nine grant applications.
Among the grants obtained by King County were:
• an award of $400,000 to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to allow for the retention of prosecutor’s staff;
• an award of $1.5 million to the King County Road Services Division to construct a pedestrian walkway along the SW 98th Street corridor, linking the Greenbridge housing development to the downtown White Center area and
• an award of $408,355 to respond to the increased demand for health care for the homeless during tough economic times.
In mid-February, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The county has set up a Web site to keep the public apprised of King County’s progress in applying for and accepting stimulus fund grants – recovery.kingcounty.gov.
